Green Building Group

Green Building Team: 

Green Building Team Niki vonHedemann Sabina Bharwani Stephanie Squibb

The National Problem : 

The National Problem U.S. Buildings Use: 42% of energy consumed 30% of the total raw materials 25% of all water consumed U.S. Buildings Produce: 40% of the atmospheric admissions 25% of the solid waste

Problems at Rice: 

Problems at Rice Weiss Commons lighting Martel air conditioning Lovett lack of temperature control Baker air quality George R. Brown energy use None built to follow green guidelines

There are no green buildings at Rice!: 

There are no green buildings at Rice!

Other Universities: 

Other Universities More than 110 universities have built or are planning to build structures certified with the USGBC Green Dorms at more than 25 schools: Carnegie Mellon University of South Carolina Several green buildings in the Houston area, including UT's School of Nursing

Why Build Green?: 

Why Build Green? Environmental Benefits of Green Buildings Conserve water Conserve energy/reduce pollution (Global Warming) Create more natural habitat Limit waste of natural resources Other Benefits Students like living at these dorms Improved indoor air quality Increased productivity/health Reputation and attracting students Economic benefits

Goals: Green Dorms: 

Goals: Green Dorms Influence a specific project at the colleges – Jones sink replacement Student opinion survey Dialogue with masters, presidents, staff, and administrators

Expected Results: 

Expected Results Jones sink replacement project: Reuse the old sinks Recycle the faucets Install low-flow faucets Student Survey Students show support for or indifference towards green dorms Dialogue Convince Masters and College Presidents on benefits of green dorms; Masters in turn have influence on consultants regarding new dorm project

Methodology - Sinks: 

Methodology - Sinks Spoke with Mark Ditman about projects at the dorms Decided to try and influence the sink replacement project at Jones Spoke with Ken Thompson about faucet options and the feasibility of recycling or reusing the old sinks

Methodology – Proposed Faucets: 

Methodology – Proposed Faucets Zurn Z8220, 0.5 gpm, ~$150 Chicago Meter Mix faucet, automatic but with temperature control, 0.5 gpm

Methodology - Surveys: 

Methodology - Surveys Created a 18-question student survey to hand out during lunches Questions concerning their general environmental attitudes Questions concerning their opinions about green dorm features Surveyed Will Rice, Sid, Lovett, Jones, and Wiess

Slide12: 

Rice University Green Building Survey Gender: M or F Year________ Major____________ Hometown_____________ Sustainability means: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs; Long-term maintenance of ecosystem components and functions for future generations.[i] Green building is the practice of: increasing the efficiency with which buildings and their sites use and harvest energy, water, and materials, and reducing building impacts on human health and the environment, through better setting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal — the complete building life cycle.[ii] Yes No 1. Do you understand the concept of sustainability?.………..1 2 3 4 5 2. It is important to you to represent a university that is “environmentally friendly”?…………………………………..1 2 3 4 5 3. Do you value native planting on campus?..……..……….. 1 2 3 4 5 4. Do you support environmental initiatives on campus?......1 2 3 4 5 5. Are you involved with environmental issues on campus? 1 2 3 4 5 6. Should the administration get more involved with environmental issues?...........……………………………….1 2 3 4 5 7. Should Rice invest in sustainable buildings[iii]?.................1 2 3 4 5 8. Would you support Rice investing in alternative energy sources? To what degree?.…………………………...…….1 2 3 4 5 [i] Entrix, Environmental Consultants, Glossary. <http://www.entrix.com/resources/glossary.aspx> [ii] Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_building> [iii] that save money in the long-term despite higher initial costs; research shows that sustainable buildings save costs through conservation of energy and water [iv] research proves that students perform better academically with natural lighting: http://www.globalgreen.org/pdf/Green_Schools/Academic_Performance.pdf http://schoolstudio.engr.wisc.edu/energysmartschools.html [v] Waterless urinals are urinals that work completely without water or flush valves. The system is touch free, improves restroom sanitation and eliminates odors. [vi] A green roof system is an extension of the existing roof that helps to mitigate the effects of urbanization on water quality by filtering, absorbing or detaining rainfall with plants.

Slide13: 

9. At UNC Chapel Hill, students voted to pay $4 more in tuition each semester in order to fund alternative energy technologies (solar panels). Do you think Rice students would be willing to pay $15 or more per semester to raise similar funds?.....................................................1 2 3 4 5 10. Are you willing to have your thermostat fixed between 68 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit?………………………………………..…..…1 2 3 4 5 11. Would you like academic and residential rooms that utilize more natural lighting?[iv]. ……………….………………………………….....…1 2 3 4 5 12. If you are male, then would you support the use of waterless urinals?[v]……………………………………………………………………1 2 3 4 5 13. Would you support a green roof system[vi] that collects rain water for non-potable usage (toilets, etc.)?...……………………………...……1 2 3 4 5 14. Would you support having water conserving fixtures for sinks and toilets?................................ ………………………………………..…1 2 3 4 5 15. Would you support a dual-flush toilet system[i] that conserves water?…………………………………………………………………..…….1 2 3 4 5 16. Would you support the use of automatic sinks within the colleges?......1 2 3 4 5 17. Would you support the use of more timed lighting or lighting sensors which would automatically turn off lights when they are not needed?...1 2 3 4 5 18. What type of flooring for your dorm room would you prefer? (1 = like the most, 3 = like the least) a. hardwood: ___ b. carpeting: ___ c. tile: ___ d. other: ___ _____________ [i] A Dual-flush toilet conserves water by allowing the user to select a short flush (three liters) or long flush (six liters) depending on if there are liquids or solids in the bowl. Any additional comments or opinions may be added here:

Methodology - Dialogue: 

Methodology - Dialogue Had meetings with 6 masters: Weiss, Lovett, Will Rice, Brown, Hanszen, and Martel Content included education about green dorms, our concerns, and how masters can influence building new dorms Presented at the Masters and Presidents meeting with Mark Ditman and Robin Forman also present Content included specific design aspects of green dorms that we hope to see and benefits of green buildings

Results – Jones Sinks: 

Results – Jones Sinks Final product chosen has slightly lower flow rate (1.8 gpm) than the original but was not one we suggested Concern about low-flow aerators Price Difficulty obtaining parts

Results – Jones Sinks: 

Results – Jones Sinks Ken Thompson has committed to collect the old sinks and deliver them to Habitat for Humanity’s ReUse store We will be removing the faucets from the sinks and recycling the metal on campus this summer

Results – Student Survey: 

Results – Student Survey Surveyed 200 students Overall, students were very positive about green dorms and environmental initiatives Some aspects of dorms had much more support than others Question 5: Are you involved with environmental issues on campus? Percent of respondents who answered 1 & 2 (yes) 10.6% Percent of respondents who answered 4 & 5 (no) 72.9%

Should Rice invest in sustainable buildings?: 

Should Rice invest in sustainable buildings? Percent of respondents who answered 1 & 2 (yes) 72.4% Percent of respondents who answered 4 & 5 (no) 8.5%

Are you willing to have your thermostat fixed between 68 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit?: 

Are you willing to have your thermostat fixed between 68 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit? Percent of respondents who answered 1 & 2 (yes) 64.5% Percent of respondents who answered 4 & 5 (no) 24.5%

Would you like academic and residential rooms that utilize more natural lighting?: 

Would you like academic and residential rooms that utilize more natural lighting? Percent of respondents who answered 1 & 2 (yes) 86% Percent of respondents who answered 4 & 5 (no) 8%

If you are male, then would you support the use of waterless urinals?: 

If you are male, then would you support the use of waterless urinals? Percent of respondents who answered 1 & 2 (yes) 52% Percent of respondents who answered 4 & 5 (no) 32.6%

Would you support a dual-flush toilet system that conserves water?: 

Would you support a dual-flush toilet system that conserves water? Percent of respondents who answered 1 & 2 (yes) 79% Percent of respondents who answered 4 & 5 (no)11.3%

Results - Dialogue: 

Results - Dialogue Masters were very receptive and supportive to the idea of green dorms even though they had not considered it before Unfortunately, Masters felt like they had little influence on this matter Masters and Presidents endorsed our green building efforts

Assessment: 

Assessment The sink project was less successful than hoped although some progress was made The student survey was an appropriate reflection of student opinion Speaking with Masters may not be the best method for changing new dorms

Lessons Learned and Future Recommendations: 

Lessons Learned and Future Recommendations Early input for influencing projects is best Finding the right methods of influencing building new dorms was challenging A green building initiative group is being formed to continue contact with the consulting firm and more administrators and will be a resource for next year

Questions?: 

Questions?